In the session of Wednesday 13 March, the Finance Commission of the Chamber began the examination of the law proposal of the deputy Mauro Berruto (PD-IDP) "Increase in the rates of the single tax on prediction competitions and betting relating to certain games and destination of the revenue to the promotion of sporting activity".
Below is the report of the session:
Marco OSNATO (FDI), president gives the floor to the rapporteur, Honorable Laura Cavandoli.
Laura CAVANDOLI (LEGA), speaker, asks to postpone the start of the examination of the measure, in order to carry out further appropriate investigations.
Mauro BERRUTO (PD-IDP), speaking on the order of business, retraces theprocess of the proposal under consideration, in order to allow the Commission to express itself in a more informed way. He recalls how the bill, filed in October 2022, recorded the unanimous consent of the merit commission and was also signed by the majority deputy Marco Perissa, demonstrating shared work. In particular, through the approval of a specific amendment, specific resources had been identified, of a structural nature, intended exclusively for the promotion of sporting activities with social purposes. He recalls how the provision, however, received a negative opinion from the Government, in particular from the Minister for Sport and Youth Abodi, inducing MP Perissa to withdraw his support for the aforementioned amendment proposal, of which he was a co-signatory, which was therefore not approved. The story he has just illustrated then found completion, in his opinion, with the approval by the Government of a legislative decree concerning the reorganization of the gaming sector, which allocates the resources deriving from the extra revenue exclusively to the football sector of Serie A and professional sport. He notes this outcome with great regret; However, he believes it is appropriate that the measure be examined by the Assembly, so that the intentions and directions of the Government can be clarified there, which appears to want to reserve resources for those who already possess them to a large extent, without any support for social sport. In conclusion, he believes that the hypothesis of postponing the examination at the Finance Commission is viable, as long as this is useful for an in-depth study of the issue and the identification of possible solutions, which he personally hopes for; otherwise, he believes a further delay is useless and invites the Commission to express its opinion already during the current session.
Marco OSNATO (FDI), president, underlines how the Finance Commission plays a consultative role here, limited to the examination of the profiles within its competence. Furthermore, he observes, beyond the solutions that may be identified by the Committee of merit, that the rapporteur's request goes in the direction of acquiring further elements of knowledge regarding the fiscal aspects of the provision, in order to be able to carry out a complete illustration of the proposed law.
Laura CAVANDOLI (LEGA), speaker, reiterates the need to postpone the examination of the provision, also in consideration of the concomitant reorganization activity of the gaming sector prepared by the Government and the simultaneous examination of some measures implementing the tax reform by the Finance Commission.
Virginio MEROLA (PD-IDP) intervenes by underlining that from a technical point of view it does not appear necessary to carry out further investigations regarding the fiscal aspects of the provision, and therefore believes that the Commission can proceed, hoping that the provision will be discussed in the Assembly as soon as possible.
Marco OSNATO (FDI), president, recalls that the provision is currently included in the Assembly's work program for the month of April and that therefore there is time to carry out the requested investigations.
Virginio MEROLA (PD-IDP) takes note of this clarification.
Marco OSNATO (FDI), president, no one else asking to intervene, postpones the examination of the measure to another session, in which the illustration of the proposed law can be carried out and the related debate will take place.
